Method and apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating operations performed at a single station

ABSTRACT

A pneumatic tire assembly apparatus and method for performing tire soaping, tire mounting and tire inflating operations, all of which being integrated at a single station positioned at one location in the apparatus. A conveyance system transfers a wheel to a transfer pallet located at a marry station whereat a tire is married to the wheel by dropping thereonto from a chute. The transfer pallet is tranferred to an integrated tire mounting and inflating station, whereupon the tire and the wheel are soaped. Next, the tire is adjusted into a predetermined position relative to the wheel by stuffers. Then, the tire is mounted to the wheel utilizing one of a number of preferred mounting and inflating heads which cause the tire beads to slip over the upper rim of the wheel. Once mounted, the tire is inflated utilizing the same mounting and inflating head. The completed pneumatic vehicle wheel may now be transferred to other stations for further processing. In the preferred embodiment, two wheels are processed simultaneously.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present Application is a continuation application of co-pendingapplication Ser. No. 07/679,169, filed on Mar. 26, 1991, now U.S. Pat.No. 5,094,284, which is a continuation application of application Ser.No. 07/371,388, filed on Jun, 23, 1989, which is now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to contemporary tire mounting andinflating stations in which a tire is mounted to a wheel at a firststation and then inflated at a second station. The present invention ismore particularly related to a tire mounting and inflating apparatus inwhich both processes are carried out at a single station.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Vehicle assembly operations include sub-assembly operations forproviding the required number of pneumatic vehicle wheels. Presently,these operations are performed by a plurality of work stations in whicheach detail of the operation is individually performed in sequence.Typically, the operations performed sequentially in contemporary tiremounting facilities are as follows.

A wheel is transferred to a first work station whereat a valve stem isprovided on the wheel by a valve stemmer apparatus. The wheel is nowprepared for transfer to the tire mounting apparatus.

Conventional tire mounting apparatus have dual roller conveyers, oneeach for tires and wheels, for taking the tires and wheels from a firstlocation to an entry point in the tire mounting apparatus. Generally,the attitude of both the wheel and the tire is horizontal during themounting and inflating processes.

The wheel is transferred via a first roller conveyer to a nest locatedon a pallet at an entry point of the tire mounting apparatus, whereat,frequently, a wheel soaper provides soaping of the rim of the wheel. Atthis same time a tire is transferred via a second roller conveyer to atire conveyer at another entry point of the tire mounting apparatuslocated overhead the pallet, whereat a tire soaper provides a soapingoperation on the bead of the tire. Generally, this operation isperformed via a plurality of nozzles or by a wetted roller which rotatesaround the tire. The soap provides a lubricant during mounting of thebead of the tire onto the rim of the wheel as well as a film which canserve as a sealing agent between the rim and the bead. With soapingcompleted, the next step is "marrying" the tire to the wheel. This isaccomplished by advancing the tire along the tire conveyer until achute, or escapement, is encountered whereat the tire drops onto thewheel, the leading edge of the tire being low in relation to the rim ofthe wheel.

The pallet is now transferred to a tire mounting station. At the tiremounting station, "stuffers" push against the tread of the tire toensure the leading edge of the tire is nestled between the upper andlower rims of the wheel. Actual mounting of the tire to the wheel isperformed conventionally by one of two methods. In the first method, thewheel is locked in stationary position by clamping the wheel, then arotating arm above the wheel rotates about the tire causing both upperand lower beads of the tire to slip over the upper rim of the wheel. Inthe second method, the tire and wheel move past two shoes, one shoebeing located on each side of the wheel, the shoes force the tire beadsto slip over the wheel rims from a given starting point as the wheelpasses thereby.

The pallet is now transferred to a tire inflation station. At the tireinflation station the tire is inflated on the wheel to a firstpredetermined pressure. There are two conventional methods for carryingout this operation. In the first method, a large diameter steel tubedescends so as to contact the tire sufficiently to separate the upperbead from the upper rim. The pallet nest for the tire and the wheel hasa raised annular area which is air tight. Air under pressure isintroduced into the steel tube causing the tire to internallypressurize. The steel tube is then raised, allowing the upper bead ofthe tire to mate with the upper rim of the wheel, thereby sealing thetire at a second predetermined pressure which is the operationalpressure of the pneumatic wheel. In the second method, a first andsecond tube descend. The first tube descends to mate with the tire asdescribed above with respect to the first method. The second tube,located within the first tube, descends to mate with the rim of thewheel. The space between the tubes is then subjected to airpressurization, and the tubes are then withdrawn to effect tirepressurization at the second predetermined value.

Conventional tire mounting devices may further include a tire and wheelmatching operation, as well as a road simulation operation. In the tireand wheel matching operation, which occurs after tire mounting andbefore tire inflation, visual scanners are used to ascertain theeccentricity of the wheel and the tire. Then each are relatively rotatedin order to achieve a best fit. In the road simulation operation, whichoccurs after tire inflation, the wheel is placed on rollers which causethe tire to be rotated in a manner indicative of driving so that thetire beads may find a final seating position on the wheel rims.

Examples of the aforesaid devices include the following patents. U.S.Pat. No. 4,547,945 to Lawson, dated Oct. 22, 1985, discloses a tire andwheel matcher having a sensing mechanism and a rotating mechanism. U.S.Pat. No. 3,658,152 to Mueller, dated Apr. 25, 1972, discloses a soapingapparatus incorporating a rotating roller for soaping the tire beads.U.S. Pat. No. 3,545,463 to Mueller, dated Dec. 8, 1970, discloses a tiremounting apparatus of the second type discussed above. U.S. Pat. No.2,907,379 to Tuttle, dated Oct. 6, 1959, discloses another tire mountingapparatus of the second type discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 2,665,747 toHarrison, dated Jan. 12, 1954, discloses yet another tire mountingapparatus of the second type discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 2,470,534 toThomas, dated May 17, 1949, discloses a tire mounting device of thefirst type discussed above. Great Britain Patent 2,085,818 to Goiseau,published May 2, 1984, discloses an automatic machine that fits a tireonto a wheel, where the wheel rim height is maintained at predeterminedvalue with respect to its conveyer apparatus. U.S. Pat. No 3,978,903 toMueller et al, dated Sep. 7, 1976discloses a tire inflator apparatus ofthe second type discussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 4,183,392 to Kane, datedJan. 15, 1980, discloses another tire inflator of the second kinddiscussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 2,910,117 to Lamerson, data Oct. 27, 1959discloses a tire inflator apparatus for the first type discussed U.S.Pat No. 2,900,015 to Harrison, dated Aug. 18, 1959, discloses anothertire inflator of the first kind discussed above. U.S. Pat. No 3,461,938to Mueller, dated Aug. 19, 1969, disclosed a tire mounting and inflatingsystem in which the operations are performed successively at differentstations, the tire mounting apparatus being of the second kind discussedabove and the tire inflation apparatus being of the second kinddiscussed above. U.S. Pat. No. 2,635,682 to Rerick et al, dated Apr. 21,1953, and U.S. Pat. No. 2,488,376 to Clauser, dated Nov. 15, 1949, eachdisclose a tire and wheel assembly apparatus in which a locking ring isinstalled on the rim after the tire has been mounted.

All the aforesaid tire mounting and inflating devices suffer fromsignificant disadvantages. The soaping station is located considerablyupstream from the mounting station resulting in the soap liquidsevaporating before the mounting operation commences, let aloneconcludes. A considerable amount of floor space must be dedicated toseparate stations for soaping, mounting and inflating. Machinecomplexity is exacerbated by the need to transfer the wheel and tirefrom station to station, as well as the need to provide independentmachinery for each of the separate operations performed at each station.

Clearly, what is required is a fast, efficient, reliable tire soaper,mounter and inflator apparatus that is integrated at a single station.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an apparatus and method for performing tiresoaping, mounting and inflating operation, the operations beingintegrated at a single station position at one location in theapparatus.

Briefly, the method is as follows. A conveyance system transfers a wheelto transfer pallet whereat a tire is married to the wheel by droppingthereonto from a chute. The transfer pallet is transferred to theintegrated operations work station, whereupon, firstly, the tire and thewheel are soaped. Next, the tire is adjusted into a predeterminedposition relative to the wheel by stuffers. Then, the tire is mounted tothe wheel utilizing one of a number of alternative mounting deviceswhich cause the tire beads to slip over the upper rim of the wheel. Oncemounted, the tire is inflated utilizing an inflator device which isintegrally associated with its respective mounting device. The completedpneumatic vehicle wheel may now be transferred to other stations forfurther processing. In the preferred embodiment, two wheels areprocessed simultaneously.

Briefly, the apparatus is as follows. Wheel stemming is performed in aseparate operation in a conventional manner. One conveyer transferswheels to an entry section of the apparatus, the wheel loader. At thewheel loader, the wheel rests horizontally and is transferred byconveyer to a nest located upon a transfer pallet. The transfer palletis located at a marry station. A second conveyer transfers tires toanother entry station of the apparatus which conveys the tires to achute, or escapement, located at the marry station whereat the tire ismarried to the wheel. Two wheels are preferred to be situate on thetransfer pallet so that simultaneous operations may be performed on thetwo wheels as an aid to speeding the operation. The transfer pallet isthen transferred to the integrated mounting and inflating station.

Tire mounting and inflating at the integrated tire mounting andinflating station is preferred to be accomplished by any of thefollowing four systems, in which tire stuffers are used to adjust theposition of the tire on the wheel prior to the actual mountingoperation.

a) Swash Plate System

In the Swash Plate System, an air tight cylinder having an annular rimfacing the tire is used to both mount and inflate the tire in successiveoperations. Firstly, soap is applied to the tire and wheel via a soaperapparatus, preferably through a plurality of annularly arranged nozzles.The cylinder is caused, through a cammed hydraulic mechanism, to orientthe annular rim off axis with respect to a central axis, then descendtoward the tire and rotate about the central axis. Both beads of thetire are thereby caused to slip over the upperr rim of the wheel. Nextthe annular rim is re-oriented on axis and then lowered to contact thetire at all locations of the sidewall. Air under pressure is introducedinto the cylinder inflating the tire. The cylinder is thereuponwithdrawn, resulting in a completed mounting-inflating operation.

b) Pseudo Swash Plate System

In the Pseudo Swash Plate System, a vertically movable air tightcylinder having an annular rim facing the tire is used to inflate thetire, while a plurality of annularly spaced hydraulic cylindersconnected with the cylinder are used, by sequential actuation, to mountthe tire. After soaping, the hydraulic cylinders are sequentiallyactuated so as to cause the tire to amount onto the wheel. Thereupon,the hydraulic cylinders are withdrawn and the annular rim is caused todescent so as to contact the sidewall of the tire at all points and thetire is inflated. The cylinder is thereupon withdrawn, resulting in acompleted mounting-inflating operation.

c) Rocker Mounter System

In the Rocker Mounter System, a vertically movable air tight cylinderhaving an annular rim facing the tire is caused to pivot in an arc,starting with the low point of the tire, to cause mounting of the tireafter soaping has been performed. Next, the cylinder is lowered onto thetire so as to contact the sidewall at all points and the tire isinflated. The cylinder is thereupon withdrawn, resulting in a completedmounting-inflating operation.

d) Rotary Mounter System

In the Rotary Mounter System, a vertically movable air tight cylinderhaving an annular rim has connected internally therewith a rotarymounter. After soaping, the internal rotary mounter descends to contactthe low point of the tire, then the rotary mounter is actuated to rotatearound the tire causing the beads to slip over the upper rim of thewheel. Next, the rotary mounter is retracted and the annular rim causedto contact the sidewall at all locations and the tire is thereuponinflated. The cylinder is thereupon withdrawn, resulting in a completedmounting-inflating operation.

After the integrated mounting and inflating station has completed itstask, the completed vehicle wheel is transferred to an exit conveyer forfurther processing as required.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus for integrating tire mounting and inflatingoperations in a single station.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method andapparatus for integrating tire mounting, inflating and soapingoperations in a single station.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating, where themounting and inflating operations occur via a Swash Plate System.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating , wherein themounting and inflating operations occur via a Pseudo Swash Plate System.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating, where themounting and inflating operations occur via a Rocker Mounter System.

It yet an additional object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating, where themounting and inflating operations occur via a Rotary Mounter System.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a methodand apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating in whichcentering of the wheel is performed only once.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide amethod and apparatus for integrated tire mounting and inflating that isreliable, cost effective, readily serviced, structured for high volumeoperation, and configured to minimize required shop floor space.

These, and additional objects, advantages, features and benefits of thepresent invention will become apparent from the following specification.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the integrated tire mounter and inflatorapparatus according to the present invention

FIG. 2 is a side view of the integrated tire mounter and inflatorapparatus of FIG. 1, showing an integrated tire mounting and inflatingstation having a Swash Plate System according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a part sectional frontal view of the integrated tire mountingand inflating station of FIGS. 1 and 2, seen along lines 3--3 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 a detail part sectional side view of the integrated tire mountingand inflating station of FIGS. 1 and 2, seen along lines 4--4 in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a detail plan view of the transfer pallet according to thepresent invention, seen along lines 5--5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a part sectional detail view of the lower platen of the headassembly according to the present invention, seen along lines 6--6 inFIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a detail bottom view of the cylinder and soaper apparatusaccording to the present invention, seen along lines 7--7 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 8 is a detail part sectional view of the tire soaper according tothe present invention, as seen by circle 8 in FIG. 4.

FIG. 9 is a detail side view of the Swash Plate System of FIG. 2 in aninitial stage of the tire mounting process.

FIG. 10 is a detail side view of the Swash Plate System, as seen in FIG.9, now in the tire inflating position.

FIG. 11 is as side view of the Pseudo Swash Plate System according to analternative embodiment of the present invention, shown about to commencetire mounting.

FIG. 12 is a part sectional plan view of the Pseudo Swash Plate Systemof FIG. 11, seen along lines 12--12 in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 is a detail side view of the Rocker Mounter System according toanother alternative embodiment of the present invention, shown at aninitial stage of mounting a tire.

FIG. 14 is a detail side view of the Rotary Mounter System according toyet another alternative embodiment of the present invention, showing therotary mounter in an extended position in which mounting of a tire ontoa wheel is underway.

FIG. 15 shows a detail side view of the Rotary Mounter System of FIG.14, now with the rotary mounter in a retracted position so that theannular rim of the cylinder may contact the sidewall of the tire at alllocations.

FIG. 16 is a detail part sectional plan view of the rotary mounter, seenalong lines 16--16 in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the Drawing, the apparatus according to each of thepreferred embodiments of the present invention will be detailed,followed by the method associated therewith.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show, generally, the pneumatic vehicle wheel processingapparatus 10 according to the present invention. The pneumatic vehiclewheel processing apparatus includes several integral components: a wheelloader station 12, a tire transfer station 14, a marry station 16, andan integrated tire mounting and inflating station 18 which includes asoaper apparatus which will be discussed later. As can be further seenfrom FIGS. 1 and 2, the pneumatic vehicle wheel processing apparatus 10is preferred to have two integrated tire mounting and inflatingstations, one inboard 18a and one outboard 18b, so as to maximizemachine efficiency. It is within the contemplation of the presentinvention to have more or less than two tire mounting and inflatingstations, as may be most desirable per a particular installation.

From a first external conveyer (not shown), wheels 24, which have beenpreviously valve stemmed at an external conventional valve stemmingoperation (not shown), are transferred to a first entry point of thepneumatic vehicle wheel processing apparatus 10, designated as the wheelloader station 12. The wheel loader station functions in a mannersimilar to prior art tire mounting systems described hereinabove.Opposing clamps approach either side of a wheel 24 deposited thereinfrom the first external conveyer. The wheel is then lifted slightly by atransfer device and transferred to a nest 26 on a transfer pallet 28.The clamps thereupon disengage and return to their prior location. Thisprocess is repeated twice so that two wheels are transferred to thetransfer pallet 28, one in front of the other, and each in a horizontalattitude. Grip clamps 20, which are located adjacent the nest, as shownin FIG. 3, thereupon engage the wheel so as to prevent any movement ofthe wheel with respect to the transfer pallet 28. During this process,the transfer pallet is located in the marry station 16.

A second external conveyer (not shown) transfers tires to a second entrypoint of the pneumatic vehicle wheel processing apparatus 10, designatedas the tire transfer station 16. The tire transfer station functions ina manner similar to prior art tire mounting systems describedhereinabove, wherein the tire transfer station 14 is located verticallyabove the wheel loader station 12 via support columns 31. A tire 32 isconveyed to a chute (or escapement) system 34 at the marry station 16,where it will drop to marry a respective wheel 24. To accomplish this,the tires are lined up along a tire conveyer 36 that conveys the tires,in pairs, to two chutes 34a and 34b; one chute being provided for eachof the tires 32a and 32b of the pair. Each of the chutes 34a and 34b,are pivotally mounted, and a fluidic actuator 38 is connected with thechutes so that they may be selectively pivoted as necessary toaccommodate transfer of the tires. In this regard, chute 34a mustperiodically be pivoted to the horizontal to permit tire 32b to reachchute 34b. Further in this regard, chute 34b must be periodicallypivoted upwardly to accommodate passage of tire 32a, now married to itswheel, when the transfer pallet 28 is translated to the integrated tiremounting and inflating station. All of the aforesaid operations aretimed to ensure each operation occurs in a minimal time interval withoutinterference with any other operation. When each married tire and wheel42a and 42b, as can be seen in phantom at the integrated tire mountingand inflating station 18 in FIG. 2, the tires lay on the wheel afterbeing deposited by the chute system 34 with their leading edge 40 low inrelation to the wheel.

the apparatus to accomplish the foregoing machine operations arepresently well understood in the prior art, and are described here onlyin so far as is necessary to describe transferring a married tire andwheel to the integrated tire mounting and inflating station 18.

The transfer pallet 28 is now translated over rollers 44 by actuation ofa fluidic actuator 45 so that each of the two married tire and wheels42a and 42b are located, respectively, in one of the two identicalintegrated tire mounter and inflator stations 18a and 18b, as shown inphantom in FIG. 2. The cylinder 45a of the fluidic actuator 45 isconnected with the main frame 47 of the pneumatic vehicle wheelprocessing apparatus 10, and the piston rod 45b thereof is connected tothe underside of the transfer pallet 28.

As can be best discerned from FIG. 3, each of the integrated tiremounting and inflating stations incorporates a head 46 which verticallydepends from a head support structure 48 at a bridge 48a thereof.Particularly in this regard, the head 46 is connected to each of thepiston rods 50 of a pair of mutually spaced apart fluidic actuators 52,the cylinders 54 of the fluidic actuators being connected with thebridge 48a of the head support structure 48. The fluidic actuatorsselectively control vertical movement of the head 46 with respect to thetransfer pallet 28. It is preferred to connect the bridge 48a to columns48b of the head support structure 48 so that the bridge may beselectively rotated 180 degrees on a bearing 48c. This feature minimizesthe possibility of down-time by allowing a user to unlock the bridge byremoving a pin 48d, then rotate the bridge 48a on the bearing 48c sothat the head 46 is now positioned above a temporary married tire andwheel delivery line, in the event of a malfuction in the main body ofthe apparatus 10. This rotated position P of the heads is shown inphantom in FIG. 1 for each of the integrated tire mounting and inflatingstations.

The foregoing features are common to the heads of each of the preferredembodiments of the integrated tire mounting and inflating stations 18according to the present invention. Further discussion of the integratedtire mounting and inflating stations will be relative to the variousembodiments thereof, as enumerated in the Summary of the Invention,above.

The Swash Plate System

The Swash Plate System of the integrated tire mounting and inflatingstation 18 is the preferred alternative embodiment of the apparatus 10according to the present invention, shown particularly in FIGS. 1through 10.

Referring firstly to FIGS. 3 and 4, it will be seen that the head 46 iscomposed of two components, a non-rotary head component 56 and a rotaryhead component 58. The non-rotary head component 56 is connected at oneend to the piston rods 50 and terminates at the opposite end in an upperplaten 60. Above the upper platen is located a motor 62 with anassociated gear box 64 from which a vertical shaft 66 extends, passingthrough the center of the upper platen. The rotary head component 58 hasat one end a lower platen 68; the shaft 66 passes through the center ofthe lower platen and is secured to the rotary head component. The shaft66 defines a central axis X about which the rotary head component 58rotates when the motor 62 is operating. The upper and lower platens 60and 68 are separated by a rotary bearing 70 which allows the rotary headcomponent to rotate with respect to the non-rotary head component with aminimum of play and friction. The lower platen 68 has connected to it acammed hydraulic mechanism 72, which, in turn, is connected to a tiremounter and inflator apparatus 74.

The cammed hydraulic mechanism 72 has two side plates 76a and 76b, eachof which connecting to the lower platen 68. Each of the two side plateshas a pair of mutually spaced apart curved cam slots, an upper cam slot78a and a lower cam slot 78b. The cam slots curve from the central axisarea downwardly away from the bridge 48a and terminate at a locationremote from the central axis. Sandwiched between the two side plates isa mounting block 80. The mounting block has fastened thereto four cambearings 82 which are spaced so as to be each received by a respectivecam slot. The cylinder 84 of a fluidic actuator 86 is pivotallyconnected with the two side plates, and is located therebetween. Thepiston rod 88 of the fluidic actuator 86 is pivotally connected to theupper end 90 of the mounting block 80. When the fluidic actuator isactuated so that the piston rod stroke varies, the mounting block iscaused to move arcingly as the cam bearings 82 follow their respectivecam slots 78a and 78b.

The tire mounter and inflator apparatus 74 is a cylinder 92 having anannular rim 94 facing downwardly toward the transfer pallet 28. Thecylinder 92 has a closed end 96 which is connected the mounting block80. At the closed end 96 is connected a pneumatic line 97, used for thetire inflating operation. Associated with the cylinder 92 is a soaperapparatus 98. The soaper apparatus is preferred to be constructedintegrally with the annular rim 94, where the annular rim has aplurality of spaced apart ports 102 through which liquid soap 115 may besprayed downwardly toward the upper and lower tire beads 32' and theupper wheel rim 24'. This structural configuration is shown particularlyin FIGS. 7 and 8, in which a tube 104 encircles the cylinder 92 in orderto supply liquid soap at each of the ports 102. A supply hose 106transfers liquid soap to the tube 104 from a remote tank (not shown).

The wheel 24 lies on a nest 26 of the transfer pallet 28. The nestincludes a soaper apparatus 98' having a circlar tube 104' whichencircles the wheel and has provided therein a plurality of spaced apartports which allow liquid soap 115 to be sprayed upwardly toward theupper and lower beads 32' of the tire 32 and the upper rim 24' of thewheel 24. The grip clamp 20 secures against the sides of the wheel inorder to hold it stationary on the nest 26 during the tire mountingoperation. As shown in FIG. 3, the grip clamp 20 is composed of twoopposing components located adjacent the nest 26. Each component of thegrip clamp 20 includes an arm 21 which selectively contacts the side ofthe wheel by action of a fluidic actuator 23, the rod 23a of which beingconnected with the arm 21 and the cylinder 23b of which being connectedwith a mounting member 23c which, in turn, connects with the main frame47. Located adjacent the nest are a pair of mutually spaced apartstuffers 110. Each suffer includes a shoe 112 which is pivotallyconnected with the transfer pallet. Each shoe is structured to biasagainst the tread of the tire so as to cause the tire to snug againstits respective wheel at its low end, via operation of a fluidic actuator114, the cylinder 114a of which being pivotally connected with thetransfer pallet 28, and the piston rod 114b of which being connectedwith the shoe. FIG. 5 shows the relative placement of the aforementionedcomponents, and further shows a cut out 116 in the transfer pallet foraccomodating the stuffers associated with the inboard integrated tiremounting and inflating staion 18a.

Operation of the first preferred embodiment of the invention, the SwashPlate System, will now be described according to the first preferredmethod for carrying out the invention.

A wheel is placed upon each of two nests on the transfer pallet. A tireis then married to each wheel. The transfer pallet is then translated onrollers by actuation of the fluidic actuator 45 so that each marriedtire and wheel is situate in a respective integrated tire mounting andinflating station and is gripped by the grip clamp 20. In eachintegrated tire mounting and inflating station the following sequence ofprocesses occurs. Soap 115 is sprayed out of ports provided on both thenest and the annular rim of the cylinder 92 of the tire mounter andinflactor apparatus 74. The fluidic actuator 86 of the cammed hydraulicmechanism 72 is actuated so as to tilt the cylinder maximally off fromthe central axis X along the cam slots. Also, the fluidic actuator 114of each stuffer is actuated to position the tire snugly against thewheel. The dual fluidic actuators 52 are then actuated so as cause thecylinder 92 to lower relative to the tire, the tilt of the cylindermatching, generally, the tilt of the tire on the wheel. When the annularrim of the cylinder 92 is proximate with the tire beads, the motor isenergized, causing the cylinder 92 to rotate about the central axis X.The resulting swash movement causes both the upper and lower tire beadsto slip over the upper rim of the wheel. The foregoing tire mountingprocess is exemplified in FIG. 9. At this point the tire is mounted andthe grip clamp is withdrawn from the wheel. Next, the fluidic actuator86 of the cammed hydraulic mechanism 72 is actuated so to bring thecylinder 92 on axis with the central axis X. The dual fluidic actuators52 are again actuated to lower the annular rim of the cylinder 92 ontothe sidewall of the tire at all points. The pneumatic line 97 is thenpressurized, causing the tire to inflate to a first predeterminedpressure. The dual fluidic actuators 52 are again actuated to raise thecylinder 92 to its original position with the tire inflation now beingat a second predetermined pressure indicative of operation of thepneumatic vehicle wheel. The foregoing inflating process is exemplifiedin FIG. 10. The tire is now fully mounted and inflated, forming anassembled pneumatic vehicle wheel. The pneumatic vehicle wheel is thentransferred away from the integrated mounting and inflating station by alift apparatus 118, consisting of a selectively raisable sprocket drivenchain, to an exit conveyer 120. The transfer pallet is then returned toits original location at a the marry station by re-actuation of thefluidic actuator 45, and the next set of wheels and tires may thereuponbe processed.

The three remaining alternative embodiments of the present invention,inclusive of apparatus and method, will be described with reference toFIGS. 11 through 16. It is understod that the difference between thealternative embodiments resides in the heads of the integrated tiremounting and inflating station, all other components and process stepsremaining the same as described hereinabove.

Pseudo Swash Plate System

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, the Pseudo Swash Plate Systemincorporate an integrated tire mounting and inflating station in whichthe head 122 is non-rotating and connected at an upper support structure124 thereof to the piston rods 50 of the dual fluidic actuators 52.Spaced from and connected with the uppper support structure by aconnection member 126 is the cylinder 92 described hereinabove,inclusive of the soaping apparatus. Evenly spaced about the perimeter ofthe cylinder 92 are a plurality of fluidic actuators 128 oriented inparallel with the cylinder wall 92' of the cylinder 92. The cylinder128a of each of the fluidic actuators 128 is connected to an annularplate 130 which is, in turn, connected to the closed end 96 of thecylinder 92. The piston rod 128b of each of the fluidic actuators 128ends in a foot 132.

In operation according to the method of this alternative embodiment ofthe present invention, married tires and wheels are transferred by thetransfer pallet to each of the integrated tire mounting and inflatingstations, and soaping, stuffing and gripping operations are performed asdescribed above. At each integrated mounting and inflating station thefollowing process steps occur. The dual fluidic actuators 50 areactuated to lower the head 112 so that the annular rim 94 makesproximate contact with the upper tire bead. The fluidic actuators 128are then actuated in sequence, starting with those adjacent thelowermost part 134 of the tire, around the tire on both sides so thatthe feet cause the upper and lower tire beads 32' to slip over the upperrim 26' of the wheel. The tire is now mounted and the grip clamp iswithdrawn from the wheel. The fluidic actuators 128 are then actuated sothat all the feet are retracted. Next, the dual fluidic actuators 50 areagain actuated to lower the cylinder 92 so that the annular rim makescontact at all locations with the sidewall of the tire. The pneumaticline is then pressurized, thereby inflating the tire to the firstpredetermined pressure. The dual fluidic actuators 50 are thenre-actuated to raise the head and its associated cylinder 92 to itsoriginal position. The tire is now fully mounted and inflated resultingin a completed pneumatic vehicle wheel. The pneumatic vehicle wheels arethen transferred to the exit conveyer as described above, and the nextmarried tires and wheels are ready to be processed.

The Rocker Mounter System

Referring now to FIG. 13, the Rocker Mounter System incorporates anintegrated tire mounting and inflating station in which the head 136 isnon-rotating and connected at an upper support structure 138 thereof tothe piston rods 50 of the dual fluidic actuators 52. Connected with theupper support structure are two mutually spaced apart side plates 140aand 140b(140b not being visible in FIG. 13) which are similar to thosediscussed above relative to the Swash Plate System. However, here theupper and lower cam slots 142a and 142b are curved downwardly on bothsides of the central axis X. The cylinder 92 of the Swash Plate Systemis connected with respect to the side plates 140a and 140b via themountin block 80 and cam bearings 82 as hereinabove described withrespect to the Swash Plate System. Further as in the Swash Plate System,a fluidic actuator 86 is used to move the mounting block as defined bythe interaction of the cam bearings and the cam slots.

In operation according to the method of this alternative embodiment ofthe present invention, married tires and wheels are transferred by thetransfer pallet to each of the integrated tire mounting and inflatingstations and soaping, stuffing and gripping operations are performed asdescribed above. At each integrated mounting and inflating station thefollowing process steps occur. The fluidic actuator 86 is actuated tocause the cylinder 92 to assume an attitude of tilt with respect to thecentral axis X an amount similar to that of th tire with respect to thewheel. The dual fluidic actuators 50 are then actuated to lower the head136 so that the annular rim 94 makes proximate contact with the tiresidewall at the upper bead. The fluidic actuator 86 is then actuated sothat the cam bearings move to the opposite end of the cam slots so as tocause the annular rim to force the upper and lower tire beads 32' toslip over the upper rim 26' of the wheel. The tire is now mounted andthe grip clamp is withdrawn from the wheel. The fluidic actuator 86 isagain actuated so that the cylinder 92 is brought into alignment withthe central axis X. Next, the dual fluidic actuators 50 are againactuated to lower the cylinder 92 so that the annular rim makes contactat all locations with the sidewall of the tire. The pneumatic line 97 isthen pressurized, thereby inflating the tire to the first predeterminedpressure. The dual fluidic actuators 50 are then re-actuated to raisethe head and its associated cylinder 92 to its original position. Thetire is now fully mounted and inflated resulting in a completedpneumatic vehicle wheel. The pneumatic vehicle wheels are thentransferred to the exit conveyer as described above, and the nextmarried tires and wheels are ready to be processed.

The Rotary Mounter System

Referring now to FIGS. 14 through 16, the Rotary Mounter Systemincorporates an integrated tire mounting and inflating station in whichthe head 144 has a non-rotary component 146 and a rotary component 148.The non-rotary component 146 is connected, via an upper supportstructure 150 thereof, to the piston rods 50 of the dual fluidicactuators 52. Spaced from and connected with the upper support structureby a hollow connection member 152 is the cylinder 92 describedhereinabove, inclusive of the soaping apparatus. A mounter shaft 154fits bearingly in the hollow of the connection member 152. The upper end156 of the mounter shaft has a sprocket 158 for engaging a chain 160which also engages a motor 162 connected with the non-rotary component146. The cylinder 164a of a fluidic actuator 164 is connected to thehead support structure 48, while the piston rod 164b thereof isconnected with the upper end 156 of the mounter shaft 154. So that themounter shaft may rotate in response to energization of the motor, butyet not cause rotation of the fluidic actuator 164, a bearing 166 isprovided that permits the fluidic actuator to vertically move themounter shaft. At the lower end 168 of the mounter shaft 154 is locateda mounter 170. The mounter includes a horizontal extension member 172that terminates in a roller 174. The cylinder 176a of a fluidic actuator176 is connected with the mounter shaft 154 and the piston rod 176bthereof is connected with the extension member. The extension member 172passes through a hole 178 in the mounter shaft 154, and actuation of thefluidic actuator 176 causes the roller 174 to be located a greater orlesser distance from the mounter shaft 154.

In operation according to the method of this alternative embodiment ofthe present invention, married tires and wheels are transferred by thetransfer pallet to each of the integrated tire mounting and inflatingstations, and soaping stuffing and gripping operations are performed asdescribed above. At each integrated mounting and inflating station thefollowing process steps occur. The fluidic actuator 164 is actuated tolower the mounter 170 toward the lowermost point on the upper tire bead.Before tire contact is made, the fluidic actuator 176 of the mounter 170is actuated to extend the roller so as to ensure that it will contactthe upper tire bead. The motor is then actuated, causing the mountingshaft to rotate and the roller to rotate around the upper and lower tirebeads, thereby causing both the upper and lower beads to slip over theupper rim of the wheel. The tire is now mounted and the grip clamp iswithdrawn from the wheel. The fluidic actuator 164 is again actuated torasie the mounter 170 from the tire. Thereupon the fluidic actuator 176is again actuated to retract the roller toward the mounter shaft. Theend point of this step results in the mounter being nestled in thecylinder 92. The dual fluidic actuators 50 are then actuated to lowerthe cylinder 92 so that the annular rim 94 makes contact at all pointswith the sidewall of the tire. The pneumatic line is then pressurized,thereby inflating the tire to the first predetermined pressure. The dualfluidic actuators 50 are then re-actuated to raise the head and itsassociated cylinder 92 to its original position. The tire is now fullymounted and inflated resulting in a completed pneumatic vehicle wheel.The pneumatic vehicle wheels are then transferred to the exit conveyeras described above, and the next married tires and wheels are ready tobe processed.

To those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains, theabove described preferred embodiments may be subject to change ormodification. In this regard, it is contemplated within the scope of thepresent invention to optionally include a conventional wheel-to-tirematching operation between the marry station and the integrated mountingand inflating station. Also, the term "fluidic actuator" usedhereinabove may refer to either the hydraulic or pneumatic form thereof,as may best suit a given installation environment. Such change ormodification can be carried out without departing from the scope of theinvention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tire mounting and inflating station formounting a tire to a wheel by forcing the beads of the tire over atleast one rim of the wheel and thereby trap the beads of the tirebetween the rims of the wheel, and for inflating the tire after the tirehas been mounted to the wheel, said tire mounting and inflating stationcomprising:a head; nest means for supporting a wheel and a tire marriedto the wheel, and further for selectively holding the wheel; bridgemeans for reciprocably supporting said head, said nest means beingselectively located below said head; reciprocation means connected withsaid head and said bridge means for selectively reciprocating said headrelative to said nest means; mounting means connected with said head forselectively applying force to the tire to thereby slip the beads of thetire over at least one rim of the wheel to thereby mount the tire ontothe wheel; and inflation means connected with said head for selectiveleysupplying air under pressure to the tire after the tire has been mountedto the wheel in order to thereby inflate the tire.